Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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You are here: Home / Archives for Anastasia

Someone is Back

April 22, 2017 at 10:04 am by Claudia

I was chatting with Don yesterday morning andI mentioned that I hadn’t seen any sign of a groundhog this year. Had Henry passed on? He’s been around so long that could well have been the case. Later in the day, after running errands, I happened to look out the window to see a groundhog in the corral, eating grass.

I ran for the camera and stayed inside to take some photos. Groundhogs are notoriously shy and any hint of movement will send them back to their lair. As it was, I could swear he was looking right at me.

Yes, the shed needs painting and you know what? I don’t care! It is what it is. Weathered and worn.

Back to Henry. Or is it Henry II? Seems a bit smaller than Henry, but I can’t swear to that.

I can’t tell you how happy this made me! I immediately texted a photo to Don, who, about a half hour later, called me back. He was relieved, as well.

This might be my favorite photo. I’ve never seen him do that before.

Yay! Welcome back after your winter of hibernation! There’s lots of grass to dine upon. Have at it! (Just stay out of my garden, please.)

It’s been raining off and on for a few days now. It rained all night last night. We are waterlogged here. Will the sun make an appearance? Fingers crossed.

I’m just about finished with my book, but I had to break away to write this post. I haven’t been reading as much lately simply because I’m finally able to work outside and that’s my priority. This rain gives me the perfect excuse to indulge in reading and I’m grateful for it.

I snapped up this galvanized tray yesterday at Target. It was in the garden section. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do with it, but I like that look – within reason, of course. Too much is too much.

Anyway, here’s what I ended up doing:

I set it on top of the cake plate, which has a much smaller diameter. It provides more room for the succulents. And it contrasts nicely with the white of the table and the cake plate.

One photo was taken yesterday, one today, which accounts for the variations in the light.

I like it.

Two more days until I head into the city for the opening of Anastasia. It’s hard to believe that after all this time, it’s finally opening on Broadway. I sure wish Don could attend with me. It would make all the difference in the world. He, in fact, considered flying in to surprise me, thinking he might be able to wrangle a day off on Tuesday. But, the show is moving on stage on Tuesday and tech rehearsals are starting and he absolutely has to be there. I completely understand.

But, oh how I’d love to have him by side. Sigh.

Happy Saturday and Happy Earth Day.

Filed Under: Anastasia, decorating, groundhogs, Henry 26 Comments

Low-Key is Just Fine With Me

April 17, 2017 at 10:09 am by Claudia

A low-key day yesterday – just me, myself and I.

Since I was so pooped from the air conditioner/mowing saga on Saturday, I took the opportunity to relax. It was very, very warm outside and, as seems to be the case when it gets too warm too early, the winds picked up in the late afternoon, getting stronger and stronger until a storm finally came through.

Now it’s twenty degrees cooler.

I watched my man Fred Astaire in Easter Parade  on TCM. I own the movie, but love it when I come upon it unexpectedly. Fred Astaire, Judy Garland, Ann Miller, Peter Lawford – wonderful cast, beautiful Irving Berlin songs, “Steppin Out With My Baby” – what could be better?

The blue jay that kept squawking at the mourning doves. From his perch in this tree behind the kitchen, he had a perfect view of the birdbath.

The maples are budding.

I saw this bag at my local yarn shop. It’s made by the same company that made my new pencil bag – they’re out of Pittsfield, Massachusetts. I thought it would be perfect for Mabel the Featherweight. Even though I made a cover for Mabel, because of the way it’s made, dust creeps in at the sides of the cover. I don’t want to put Mabel back in her original case because, like most Featherweight cases, it is musty after years of being stowed in someone’s attic.

Isn’t it cute? I’d secretly love an aqua sewing machine, but I already have two sewing machines, so I think I have to let that idea go.

The bunny egg cozy so far:

Body and arms. I’m using tiny needles – number 2 – and have to keep looking up how to execute a stitch or an increase or a decrease because I haven’t knitted in a long time. My bunny will be white, simply because that’s what was available at Michael’s. I wasn’t about to use expensive yarn for this experiment!

Anastasia opens a week from today. Yesterday, while HGTV was on as background noise when I was knitting, I heard the opening notes to Journey to the Past  and my head shot up. Yay! It was the commercial for Anastasia, which has just started airing. Christy’s glorious voice singing and very simple and powerful – I’m very proud to have been a small part of this show. And it is a small part, given how much goes into producing a big musical. I’ll be going to the opening and I think I’ll try to book a hotel room in the city for Monday night.

Speaking of HGTV, despite my unhappiness with most of the programming, I do have a fondness for Erin and Ben, the couple behind Home Town. I’ve read Erin’s blog for years, so I’ve been pulling for them as this opportunity came their way. They’re just so genuine – not an ounce of slickness or artifice – and I really like the fact that Erin’s decorating style honors the house they are rehabbing and isn’t something she imposes on the house, if you know what I mean.

Okay. At some point this week, I have to find shoes to wear for opening night and when you’re someone who lives in sneakers and hates heels, that is a challenge.

Happy Monday.

Filed Under: Anastasia, birds, knitting 52 Comments

Chatty on a Tuesday

April 11, 2017 at 9:29 am by Claudia

Greetings from the land of abnormally warm temperatures! 77° yesterday, over 80° today. I’ve been cleaning out the garden beds (I’ll be glad when I’m through with all the raking!) I ran to Lowe’s yesterday for new garden gloves and also picked up a paver. Why? Because I’m tired of the bird bath being on a slant (the ground at the top of the drive slants downward) and thought I might be able to get it a bit more level if it was placed on a paver rather than the ground. Mission accomplished, with the help of two stone ‘shims.’

Later in the day, I stopped and visited some friends:

Hello, Emby! The sweetest horse in the world. I fed him lots of carrots, told him that his Uncle Don missed him very much and that I would be visiting him at least once a week. He gave me two kisses. I’m very honored.

That’s Sissy in the shed eating her hay. When she has fresh hay, she has absolutely no interest in carrots. She lifted her head and gave me a look when I called out to her and then went right back to her supper. I messaged these photos to Don and, as I suspected, they made him very happy.

Hello, new Nancy Drew! This (#19 in the series) arrived in the mail yesterday (I have two more on the way.) Nancy is rocking a 40’s hairdo. Love the map, the piano, the globe, the fireplace…all of it.

More egg cups. Walking ware, some California Pottery with the original sticker, Harlequin by Homer Laughlin, a bunny, lustre ware, a chick emerging from an egg and your basic green and white egg cup. The ceramic egg was a gift from my mom. The painted egg may have been, too – I’m not sure.

I have some more that are scattered throughout the house. I’ll gather them together today and take a picture.

My Peet’s is tasting especially good this morning.

Don drove to the desert yesterday on his day off to see the tail end of the wildflower bloom there. But he’s very tired. These are long days in rehearsal and 6 long days a week with only one day off takes its toll. I find I always have to get back ‘in shape’ when I start rehearsals again after a period of time away from them. Don hasn’t done a play in a long time, so it’s a big change for him. And this is a new musical, to boot, with songs, dances, re-writes…everything.

We’re both suffering from a big old case of the ‘misses’, as in “I miss you so much.” It really hit him yesterday. It’s lonely being on the road, even if you’re in the midst of rehearsals with a lot of people. At the end of the day, you go back to your apartment and you’re all alone. I understand, believe me. I’m going to try and get out there in May. We need some time together.

The Anastasia cast album has been recorded and will be available in June. Huzzah!

Happy Tuesday.

 

 

Filed Under: Anastasia, Don, egg cups, horses, Nancy Drew 19 Comments

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Welcome!

Welcome!

I live in a little cottage in the country with my husband. It's a sweet place, sheltered by old trees and surrounded by gardens. The inside is full of the things we love. I love to write, I love my camera, I love creating, I love gardening. My decorating style is eclectic; full of vintage and a bit of whimsy.

I've worked in the theater for more years than I can count. I'm currently a voice, speech, dialect and text coach freelancing on Broadway, off Broadway, and in regional theater.

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